Running-frame for vehicles.



No, 657,430. Patented Sept. 4, I900.

'H. P. MAXIM.

RUNNING FRAME FOB VEHICLES.

(Application filed Jun. 20, 1900.)

(N0 llodel.)

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM PERCY MAXIM, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRICVEHICLE COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND

NEW YORK, N. Y.

RU NNING-FRAME FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 657.430, dated.September 4, 1900.

. Application filed January 20, 1900- Serial N 2,099. on; model.)

T0 on whom, it may oonceriu 3 Be it known that I, HIRAM PERCY MAXIM, acitizen of the United States, residing in Hartford,county of Hartford,State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Running-Frames for Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part hereof.

This invention relates to running-frames of the general character ofthat shown in Harold l3. Atkinss application for Letters Patent of theUnited States, Serial No. 737,274, filed November 17, 1899, and has forits object to provide certain novel features of construction forrunning-frames which embody the invention coveredby said applicationtoWit, the hinging togetherof the parts of the frame on a diagonal line. IThese features will be more fully described hereinafter with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated a frame whichembodies such features in convenient and practical form.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of such a frame, and Figs. 2and 3 are respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of theframe shown in Fig. 1.

The frame shown in the drawings comprises front and rear transversemembers A and B and longitudinal members or reaches C and 0, all of suchmembers being by preference substantially straight, except ashereinafter indicated. In the form of frame shown in the drawings thefront transverse member A is provided with yokes to receive thestub-axles of the steering-wheels, and the rear axle B is provided withjournals to receive the rear wheels. The longitudinal members or reachesand the transverse members overlap at each end, and at the points ofintersection or overlapping each transverse member has secured to it acoupling D or D. Each coupling D is provided with a socket d to receivethe end of the corresponding longitudinal member or reach, the jointbetween the oupling D and the end of the corresponding longitudinalmember being rigid. Each coupling D. may be rigidly secured to thecorresponding transverse member or, if desired, the front coupling D maybe loose upon the front transverse member, as indicated in Figs. 1 and2. Each of the diagonally-opposite couplings D is provided with a socketd, which receives loosely the end of the corresponding longitudinalmember or reach, the axes of such sockets being in the same diagonalline,- so that the two opposite parts of the frame, each comprising onelongitudinal member and one transverse member, shall have a free hingeor folding movement upon such diagonal line,- whereby the four wheels ofthe vehicle are permitted to accommodate themselves to an unevensurface. The ends of the longitudinalmeinbers may be crooked, so as tolie in the axis of the diagonal hinge-joint, such ends being providedwith shoulders d and caps or nuts d? to preventvdisplacement whilepermitting free rotary movement. it will be obvious that other forms ofcouplings might be used at D and that other forms of hinged joints mightbe substituted for those shown at D, provided such hinged joint islocated at the point of intersection or overlapping of the transverseand longitudinal members.

It will be seen that not only does the overlapping of the longitudinaland transverse members make it possible to use a very sim-.

ple coupling which will hold the parts together with maximum strengthand cheapness of construction, but that by arranging thediagonally-hinged joints at the points of intersection or overlappingthere is absolutely no tendency to twist the connection of the membersof the frame at the other corners and no interference with the freedomof the frame to fold or hinge on the diagonal lineas the inequalities ofthe surface upon which the four wheels rest may require. The employmentof longitudinal members or reaches which are straight from joint tojoint makes it possible to dispense with cross members or corner braceswhich might have to be inserted in order to accommodate unbalancedstrains due to bending of such members.

I It will be obvious that the invention is'not to be restricted to theprecise form and construction of parts shown and described herein.

I claim as my invention- 1. A running-frame for vehicles comprisingoverlapping transverse and longitudinal members and couplings joiningthe transverse and longitudinal members at the points of overlapping,the frame being 'composeg .of W0 pan weal t e w jefdie finel He 2. Arunning-frame for vehie'les"compris ing overlapping transverse andlongitudinal mem bers and couplings joining the transverse and ogitudinar members the pointsot'li srl p e ea 9? t' wo @ieg mHx-wnw sitecouplings having a socket with its axis in a diagonal line common. toboth, the end .site couplingshaving a socket W t of thecorre spondinglongitudinal member n g said socket, .lenelyil whe by said" frame ishinged on said diagonal line. i

3. A running-frame for vehicles comprifsi ing overlappingetransvmsfi andlong mdinal 3 members and up s 9iHiH l Mnww e and longitudinal menibersat the points o ff f overlapping; each of tWO di gQ aljy-oppo;

in a diagonalline common robot-h, the end t ax s

